If this were the week before Christmas we would have lights on the roof, decorations throughout the house, and various styles of nativity scenes in several rooms. We would have everything ready to remind us of Jesus stepping into our world as a newborn baby.
Now it is the week before Easter. Looking around our house, both inside and out, we see little if anything different from the norm. This next weekend we are going to remember the crucifixion of Christ and then celebrate his resurrection on Sunday morning. The most significant events of human history are about to be highlighted and yet we give it little preparation.
This year let's take a different approach. I'm not suggesting you rush out and buy some eggs to color or some chocolate bunnies to nibble on (though there is nothing wrong with either of those). I'm suggesting we consciously prepare our heart and mind for what the weekend is about to bring us.
Each day this week I am going to email you a chapter of the Gospel of John, chapters 14-20 to be exact. My challenge to you is to read a chapter a day, not in a rushed fashion but in a thoughtful approach. I will send it to you from the Message translation just to prompt your mind to possibly look at it in a fresh way.
Chapter 14 will be coming to you in a few minutes but just to set the tone, let me show you John 13:1 (NIV) to use as a backdrop for everything that is yet to come.
"It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love."
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